Side by Side Black Friday Sales in St. Jacobs at Market Road Antiques and St. Jacobs Outlets!

Monday, November 19, 2018

Black Friday has grown in popularity in Canada over the past few years and debates about the true origins of the term "black friday" continue. Today it is generally regarded as the start of the holiday shopping season in the USA, sometimes amid images of early morning lineups for store openings and frantic crowds. After all, who doesn't love to save some money and get a great deal ahead of the holidays!?

But in an increasingly fast-paced world, for many, an added sense of satisfaction comes from finding a way to incorporate the richness of past tradition into our modern living; to pay tribute to a quieter bygone time where a few simple treats - like nuts & candy and perhaps opening one or two treasured gifts with loved ones on Christmas morning - made the day special and memorable for a lifetime.

Blogs, magazines, home décor and diy websites are abuzz with ideas on how to achieve this, much of it centered on holiday décor. And within that realm, antiques and collectible items play an important role in bringing a sense of nostalgia to your home.

Consider how an antique piece of furniture – whether rustic or refined - or a table set with lovely antique dishes and glass can in itself pay homage to days gone by. A cedar garland strung with vintage ornaments and draped over a mantle, hutch or doorway can add dramatic flair and festive mood in an instant.

Or perhaps you are a do-it-yourselfer whose greatest satisfaction comes from repurposing an old item to star in your home in a fresh new way, or to give as a gift. Think wooden boxes, jugs, and jars adorned with greens and candles; bells of every description strung with ribbon; old skates, wooden sleds, skis, or an architectural element adorned to greet guests at the front door...

And even a small creative venture can be good for the soul. So take some time to browse for ideas on line or in magazines, stroll through Market Road Antiques with its more than 100 antique vendor booths, then perhaps... get out the glue gun, greens & glitter, and let visions of sugar plums and all things Christmas dance in your head as you prepare for the holidays!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE at Market Road Antiques
Thursday November 22 - Sunday November 25, 2018
Open daily 10 am - 6 pm, and OPEN LATE to 8 pm
on Thursday & Friday of this event!

St. Jacobs Sparkles,Thursday November 15 - Sunday November 18, 2018!

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

There will be a twinkle in the sky and magic in the air during St. Jacobs Sparkles! This much-anticipated 4-day celebration ushers in the holiday shopping season in the village of St. Jacobs on November 15,16,17,18, 2018.

Shopkeepers have been busy as elves preparing festive samples, amazing promotions, in-store sales and contests just for you! They'll be rolling out the red carpet and keeping their doors open late so you can enjoy shopping amongst 1000s of twinkling lights in this pretty village, decked for the holidays. There will be free activities along the streets, including horse-drawn trolley rides, Victorian carolers, a visit from Santa, a weiner roast over the bonfire, a luxury limobus shuttle and more! Feeling hungry? Reserve a seat in one of the village's restaurants or enjoy a treat from an outdoor food vendor.

Come join in the festivity with friends and neighbours, and find the joy in holiday shopping at St. Jacobs Sparkles! Schedule details below:

Event: St. Jacobs Sparkles

Thursday - Sunday, November 15 - 18, 2018
Location: Village of St. Jacobs

Park free at Calvary United Church, 48 Hawkesville Road,
then ride in style to and from the downtown at your leisure

• Thursday 5 - 9 pm • Friday 5 - 9 pm

WHERE TO PARK (FREE)

• Municpal parking lot, 27 Albert Street, St. Jacobs

• Thursday and Friday 5 - 9 p.m: Park at Calvary United Church and take the free
Luxury LimoCoach to downtown (approx. 1 km)

Outdoor Food & Drink

Stone Crock Outdoor Food Booth

• Thursday 5 - 9 p.m. • Friday 5 - 9 p.m. at Stone Crock porch

Beaver Tails Food Truck at Shadetree

• Thursday 4 - 9 p.m. • Friday 4 - 9 p.m.

• Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 • Sunday 12 - 6 p.m.

IN-STORE SPECIALS AND PROMOTIONS

Check this page often as shopkeepers reveal their in-store promotions:

NEW! Carol Sing at Red Coral "Jingle on the Square"
Join in a carol sing, enjoy a hot chocolate bar and popcorn;
enter a draw for a decorative urn! Hosted by StuffIn Stockings,charity

• Thursday 7 - 9 pm • Friday 7 - 9 pm • Saturday 1 - 6 pm

The Farm Pantry
Samples by a visiting Canadian chocolatier, featuring chocolate that is dairy, nut, gluten, soy preservative and additive free. Healthy and delicious!
• Thursday November 15, approx 2 - 5pm
Also sampling of various local gourmet dips and condiments throughout the entire event.

Stencil your own Christmas pillow!
• Saturday 2 - 5 pm or while supplies last
Plus! A pop-up shop in the studio featuring Paper & Sunshine, specializing in signs;
special pricing on many items including BOGO and "Save the Tax" deals throughout the event

Disney Musical Packed with Family Fun this Summer in St. Jacobs!

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

by Drayton Entertainment

Go “under the sea” this summer as the blockbuster musical Disney’s The Little Mermaid comes to St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from July 18 to August 4. This aquatic adventure is sure to entertain guppies of all ages with its splash-tacular cast of familiar characters like Princess Ariel, Price Eric, Sebastian the crab, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and more.

Colourful costumes, dazzling dancing and unforgettable songs including “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and many more, means a stop at the theatre should be part of your St. Jacobs experience.

Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, a visit to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse is a must. Explore the famous St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, do some shopping in the village, enjoy a delicious local meal and experience live, professional theatre all in the same charming area. With plush seats, beautiful acoustics, terrific sightlines and free parking, the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse offers top quality musicals and comedies all for one affordable price – only $46 plus tax per ticket. Plus, kids under 20 are only $27 plus tax, so the family can enjoy live entertainment together without breaking the bank.

Click here to take a virtual tour of the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse!

The 2018 Season at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse also includes: the romantic comedy The Rainmaker (June 20 – July 7), Disney's The Little Mermaid (July 18 – Aug 4), the British farce Out of Order (Aug 15 – Sept 1), the Canadian premiere of Ghost: The Musical (Oct 3 – Oct 21) and the holiday musical panto Jack and the Beanstalk (Nov 28 – Dec 30). For more information about Disney’s The Little Mermaid or the 2018 Season in general, click here.

Posted By:

Village St Jacobs at 3:03 PM

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Quilt Shows in the Village of St. Jacobs, May 22 - 26!

Monday, April 9, 2018

You don’t have to be a quilter to enjoy the vast array of shows, exhibits and events that make the Quilt & Fibre Art Festival so vibrant and inspiring!

Held May 22-26, 2018 in communities across Waterloo Region, it celebrates the best work of quilters and fibre artists both from the past and the present.

More than 6 of the festival’s collective events will take place in St. Jacobs, a village of Mennonite and pioneering heritage where quilting and needlework played an important role – for both practicality and beauty.

During the Festival, visitors will see a variety of exhibits featuring everything from historic collections to the work of contemporary guest artists and guilds. Work may be inspired by modern or traditional patterns, be hand-stitched or machine quilted with free motion linear and digital designs, or it may be experimental using new techniques and trends for remarkable outcomes.

The Festival also holds a “trunk show”, afternoon tea, chat with an artist, demonstrations, workshops, a mystery bus excursion, and a merchant mall.

The Quilt Festival is a great excuse to book a getaway to St. Jacobs! Stay at a top hotel such as Homewood Suites by Hilton; take in the quilt shows, local shops, attractions, and the nearby St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market (open Thurs & Sat).

For details and a Calendar of Events for the Quilt & Fibre Arts Festival, click here.

Posted By:

Marilyn Wideman at 9:25 AM

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It's Maple Syrup Time in St. Jacobs ~ The Sweetest Season!

Thursday, March 29, 2018

With winter behind us and spring on the horizon, it's maple syrup season once again. As majestic maple trees in local woodlots awake during warming daytime temperatures following freezing nights, sap begins flowing from root to treetop. It's then that the trees are "tapped" and the watery sap collected for the long process of being boiled down to sweet and delicious pure maple syrup, taffy, sugars, and other maple products.

In St. Jacobs Country, there are a number of ways to learn, experience, and taste the magic of the maple season first-hand!

St. Jacobs Horse-drawn Tours hosts Saturday excursions to the sugar bush (until April 14 in 2018), local farmers sell maple syrup fresh from the farm at St. Jacobs Farmers' Market (Thursday & Saturday), and The Maple Syrup Museum tells the story of its production from the time it was introduced to pioneering settlers by indigenous people, to modern day production methods.

You can also sample and buy fresh local maple syrup products and other local gourmet foods all year around at The Farm Pantry, open every day in the Village of St. Jacobs, or order it from them online for shipping anywhere in Ontario.

Maple syrup is so well-loved, and its production so significant to the local economy, that an entire festival is dedicated to it. The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is the world's largest one-day maple syrup festival and takes over the town's entire main street each year with a staggering array of crafters, food booths, and of course, all things maple. It takes place on Saturday April 7, 2018; learn more by clicking here.

Maple syrup season happens only once a year so be sure to plan a visit soon!

Posted By:

Marilyn Wideman at 11:32 AM

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St. Jacobs Market District is Humming with Lots to Love in February 2018!

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Once again, St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market is giving you "Lots to Love" by jazzing up February with a massive sale! Throughout market, a huge number of food and craft vendors participate with their own unique offers and specials. See them all here! (pdf)

Every Thursday & Saturday, more than 200 vendors are at St. Jacobs Market to serve you in three distinct buildings, and you may even find a few hardy outdoor vendors too!

Stop and chat with the farmers, butchers, bakers, food and craft producers themselves, and discover all there is to love at St. Jacobs Market. Hop on over to our Facebook page to enter weekly contests too. The "Lots to Love" Sale event continues at St. Jacobs Farmers' Market every Thursday & Saturday, for the entire month of February.

And as if that weren't enough, there's even more to love in the entire "market district". Market Road Antiques is hosting their month-long February Warm-Up Sale too, and St. Jacobs Outlets' Mall-wide Winter Clearance & New Spring Arrivals Sale takes place February 15 - 25. Both of these shopping destinations are open every day, including Family Day holiday Monday.

St. Jacobs Sparkles! A Celebration of the Holiday Shopping Season!

Monday, September 25, 2017

Welcome St. Jacobs Sparkles! This much anticipated holiday event celebrates the holiday shopping season and took place on November 16, 17, 18, 19, 2017. Read on to see what took place, and plan to attend in 2018!

Merchants have been busy as elves preparing once-a-year savings, fabulous in-store promotions, festive goodies, free draws, and more for you to enjoy. All across town shopkeepers throw open their doors for extended hours to 9 p.m. on Thursday & Friday night and until 6 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday.

Walk with your family through the pages of the book, Good Morning Canada, displayed outside the branch and come inside to make a fun Canadian craft!
Andrea Beck is the Let’s Read selected author for 2017-18.
Free. All ages. Drop in. 519-664-3443

From the Farm - Treat Yourself to Local Dairy Chocolate Milk!

Thursday, August 10, 2017

While shopping at the Meats & Cheese store in St. Jacobs recently, I purchased a glass bottle of Eby Manor Golden Guernsey Chocolate Milk as a treat for myself. I was completely unprepared for the flood of joy that overtook me upon my first sip of this smooth, rich beverage.

“Some say it tastes like a chocolate milkshake, others describe it as a liquid chocolate bar, several have likened it to melted chocolate ice cream.”

This quote from the Eby Manor web site, although accurate, cannot quite capture the rapture that their product invokes. Decanted cold from its retro style glass bottle, I am reminded of days gone by and memories of fresh milk being delivered in glass bottles door to door.

No less nostalgic is the idyllic farm where the milk is produced. The pampered herd of 60 registered milking Guernsey cows of the Eby Manor live in a clean and comfortable home, grazing fields that have been farmed for three generations.

The special qualities of the Guernsey cow breed makes their milk naturally higher in Beta-Carotene, Omega 3, calcium and A2. It’s pure and wholesome naturally.

Also try their 2% white milk and Balkan style yogurt available for sale at Meats & Cheese in St. Jacobs! For more information about Eby Manor Golden Guernsey products, visit their website

Friday, July 7, 2017

One of the first orders of business in planning a special event is finding a standout venue, especially if it is something as important as your wedding.

Yes, you’ll want modern amenities and a fully accessible, conveniently located space, a trusted caterer, professional photographer and top-notch florist, but you’ll also want a distinct building and a lovely space that is flexible enough to adapt to your vision for the day.

With its abundant natural light, serene colour scheme, and soaring gothic windows, the historic St. Jacobs Schoolhouse building in St. Jacobs offers you a classic intimate space in which to create your special event, whether it is to act as the wedding reception hall, or serve as the ceremony space too.

Like a canvas awaiting your creative touch, you’ll find the possibilities for setting the mood are almost endless in this charming space.

Step inside and feel the possibilities!

The details:

• The historic 1867 St. Jacobs Schoolhouse building is an extensively renovated space with original hardwood floors, high ceilings and gothic windows.

• Accommodates 120 at table seating or 150 for cocktail receptions.

• Exclusive caterer: St. Jacobs Catering, offering everything from cocktail receptions and food stations to buffet or plated dinners.
• Located in the Village of St. Jacobs, approximately 15 minutes from uptown Waterloo.
• Fully accessible.
• Ample free parking.

St. Jacobs - Discover Its Colourful Connections to the Past!

Friday, May 19, 2017

Discover the Village of St. Jacobs' connection to the past in this series of articles written by Rych Mills, writer for The Record. Read them and get well-researched insights into some of the people, places and things which had significance in the village, and which tie in to Canada's confederation and its 150th celebrations this year.

In this second article, get a glimpse into the village's schoolhouse and the teachers who taught there. The Schoolhouse is still in existence today, albeit much modernized to house a serene space for private functions, and as a venue for theatre productions.

Next time you visit St. Jacobs, consider taking a leisurely walk around town to see significant buildings, sites, and evidence of its early pioneering beginnings in its picturesque downtown and along quiet side streets. Download our free historic walking map. Shops, restaurants and most exhibits will be OPEN - even on holiday weekends this summer. Why not plan a visit soon!

Pictured above: original gothic window in the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse , Albert Street,
St. Jacobs.